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West Seattle restaurants: Meander’s to close WS location

After a few “preview” weekends in White Center (photo above), Meander’s Kitchen proprietor Miranda has made her decision: The West Seattle location will close. She just made this announcement via Facebook:

Though we’d wanted to keep the West Seattle shop open through December, it’s become pretty darned clear that we need to focus our resources on the White Center shop. This past weekend was an amazing turnout; much more than we had thought, so our kitchen got backed up pretty significantly. In order to bring our best to you in the new space, we’ll be closing the West Seattle shop this week.

So, tomorrow will be our last day in West Seattle. Ed’s on the grill today, and I’ll be cooking tomorrow. Come say howdy…I’ll miss the West Seattle shop dearly, but I hope to see you all in White Center!

So I’m a little torn about this decision. I am happy that you were so successful in WS that you needed to open a new location, but I think its wrong to abandon the spot and people that got you to the point of needing more space in the first place. Good luck in WC, hope they show you the same love that we showed you, because it is that love that keeps businesses open.

Monroe – She is hardly abandoning her community. The WC location is really just a few miles down the road. It is silly to think she is abandoning people by choosing to have her restaurant in a place that can serve more customers.

for myself i’m trying to separate what miranda is doing (making a smart business decision) from how i feel about it (sad, and yes, a little abandoned).
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i admire miranda immensely – she opened a great restaurant, followed a dream, built a following. of course, it’s exactly because i liked meanders so much that i’m sad to have it move away. (to me there’s a significant difference between being able to walk someplace easily and having to drive.)
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there will be a banana-waffle-sized hole in my life, my family’s life, and my community’s life. certainly it will heal, something else will come along, etc., but for now i’m mourning the departure of meanders even as i celebrate the accomplishments of its owner.

I second the mixed feelings. I enjoyed Meanders, and I will make it out to WC from time-to-time. However, I will more often choose to support our friends in the immediate community … The Junction, Admiral, Morgan Junction, Alki, and our couple of brave businesses in the shadows of the bridge. You see, we are a community of neighborhoods, and while WC may be geographically in West Seattle, in a million different ways, it is not part of the West Seattle community. Venturing in WC is like going to Belltown, SODO, Queen Anne, Georgetown — not terribly far, but also, not my community. I wish Meander’s the best of luck, and like Proletariat and Full Tilt, I’ll swing by every once in a while. In the meantime, the more immediate businesses will benefit from just a bit more of my business.

Brian M. summed it up well for me. I’d like to see a new breakfast spot open up in the Morgan Junction area as we can dearly use it. Doesn’t have to be the same location, but definitely want to support more options closer to West Seattle and in my neighborhood. Even though WC is close and has some great options I rarely go there since I can walk to closer locations.

I can appreciate the walkability issue. But just for fun, I looked up the distance via Google Maps – Miranda’s new location is 3.2 miles from the old location. That’s closer than, say, Alki (where Alki Café has long had a good breakfast) – 3.4 miles from Miranda’s old location. (Of course there are closer spots. Like Easy Street Café.) If you haven’t been to WC lately, really, it’s not as far or as different as you think. And we would say that even if the Rat City Business Association wasn’t a WSB sponsor :) – TR

Seriously people! White Center is not the “Black Hole of the Universe” and it’s what? an extra 4 minutes away?
After dark in White Center is no different than anywhere else in West Seattle after dark.
What a bunch of whiners.

I fully support Meanders coming to White Center. For those who refuse to go to WC because they think it’s sketchy, well it’s your loss.
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WC is trying to change, but it needs support from the community. It makes my heart happy to see small, family friendly businesses popping up in the area. WC has so much potential, and I am so glad that I’m not the only one that thinks so.

Just to echo much of what’s been said, with my own twist: I will miss being able to walk to Meander’s, but will drive to WC to try out the new location and same terrific food and friendly vibe, just as we currently do for Athena’s, Zippy’s, Full Tilt, etc.

I’ve not yet had the pleasure of going to Meander’s because I’d heard the the small location was hard to get into. So I will be a NEW customer within walking distance and I am very excited to have them in the neighborhood!

I think it’s a little unreasonable to be shocked that people think WC is still a little sketchy. I think anyone walking with 1) a toddler, or 2) walking as a young woman recognizes the presence of porn shops in the downtown core, and the drunk folks standing outside bars smoking and leering. I get that WC advocates are committed to WC–and kudos for doing so! You are helping that community, you really are. But pretending like walking in WC is somehow no different than walking in the Junction is either denial or naivete or untruthful. I have no doubt WC is getting better, but I also have no doubt that it isn’t quite there yet. I know because I’ve had to walk past aggressive pan handlers, porn shops, drunk smokers, etc. to get some of the great ice cream or what have you that people praise about WC. Please stop picking on people who recognize WC is still sketchy ’round the edges.

One thing to consider, is that Metro Rte 128 now runs the full length of California Av, from Atlantic St in the Admiral District, to it’s intersection with Fauntleroy/Morgan, just south of the WS Meander’s location, before turning up Morgan St and working it’s way to 15th & Roxbury, in WC, just a short, flat, walk to Meander’s WC.

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This route now runs that route, 7 days a week, at pretty much 1/2 hour intervals.

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If enough “good” folks fill the WC neighborhood, and patronize these businesses, perhaps the real or perceived “bad element” will fade away…

My comment has nothing to do with the scene in WC, it has to do with supporting your community and not leaving when the grass seems greener 3. whatever miles it is down the road. I was a loyal customer when the Great Chef Wah was at that space and I will be for the next business too. Just be careful WC how much you support some businesses, there is a reason why certain neighborhoods dont ever get over their image, it is because good people and shops dont stick around and make it better, they leave when they can afford to and have built a reputation to support them somewhere else.

I would like to point out that the space that Meanders is taking over was one of the “bad spots” with nasty drunks hanging around outside. So that’s good. As far as “porn stores” there’s only Stans and that is about as unthreatening as you can get. I don’t know how they stay in business, because I’ve literally never seen anyone go in or out of there. You all need to man up and quit whining. Fine, you won’t go to White Center because you’re scared. More awesome neighborhood for the rest of us then. Carry on.

I am positive about the move. I haven’t been to Meander’s in the original location, partly due to the wait times I’ve heard about, somewhat due to the ‘hair and clothes’ smelling like a grill. with the new location in WC, i will probably get to try some of this tasty food.

I do go to WC; I like McClendon’s, Proletariat, Zippy’s, Salvadorean bakery, etc, and frequent these businesses without issue. I will acknowledge on some occasions being uncomfortable waiting for tasty mulitas at my favorite taco truck. I’ve seen drug deals at the parking lot across the street. I’ve seen someone suffering from mental illness (or maybe on drugs) screaming incessantly and incoherently in that parking lot too. while that can make me nervous, OTOH, there are aggresive panhandlers all over the city, in front of the old Petco space, Downtown, Capitol Hill… I am more uncomfortable waiting for a bus (around 9pm) downtown than I am walking around WC though.

and speaking of other ‘sketchy’ areas; whenever our family goes to Cap Hill, to go to value village, Elliott bay books, molly moons, the park… we always somehow manage to find a parking spot right in front of the crypt and purr…interesting stuff in the window at the crypt.. if that’s your thing. and we always manage to happen by purr on ‘wear next to nothing, get wasted and hang out on the sidewalk hitting on everyone that walks by’ night. but that won’t scare me or stop me from enjoying a great neighborhood. but i digress…

I’m not shocked that there are people who refuse to go to WC because they think it’s sketchy or unsafe. Nor am I shocked that people are whining about how Meanders is moving away from their safe and walkable neighborhood, thus they’re no longer supporting the business. I also find it amusing when people complain that WC is just too far away. Is the rest of Seattle too far away, too?
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It’s fine if you decide it’s not the place for you, it just means there will be one more seat for someone else. Once again, your loss! There will be plenty of other people that will be willing to support Meanders new location, regardless of whatever perceived sketchiness others may have of the neighborhood. To those who are willing to try or give it a chance, THANK YOU!
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All I am saying is that neighborhoods that are considered “sketchy” can never get better without support from people who are willing to give it a chance and spend money to make it a safer destination.

I’ll agree there are sketchy parts of WC but if we’re talking about danger, I recall there being a deadly shooting at Morgan Junction park – just a block away from the old location.

I’ve seen sketchy people hanging around that quick mart there – even around the Thriftway.

I personally see the move as positive myself and heard that one of the reasons for the move had to do with the uncertainly of the lease on the old location – so I don’t think it was a simple case of Meander’s abandoning the neighborhood that supported them.

Good luck on the new location to Meander’s (easier parking!) and I look forward to any positive changes you may bring to WC.

It sounds to me that this is a simple issue of supply and demand, not departing for greener pastures. As several have stated here, they haven’t been to Meanders because of wait times. If your business develops a reputation for people not being able to get in the door to purchase the product, that is a problem for the business and the customers. As for sketchy drunks smoking outside bars, you could be talking about walking by the Admiral Pub and Yen Wor in North Admiral on a Friday night.

Hahaha oh Sam, I loved your little bit on Capitol Hill – I must park in the same spot you do ;-) – I love Meanders and am excited that they now have a more stable lease situation and a larger space to work with. I will gladly stop by there when I am hitting up McClendon’s. I still make the trip to my old Eastlake haunt 24 Carrot for their potato pancakes and will even head all the way up to Greenwood for the bread pudding at the Green Bean – there is a world outside of West Seattle and our city is really not so big that a few miles difference will stop me from going somewhere I enjoy.

Good lord people, White Center isn’t the moon. I regularly come up to Alki, Admiral, and the Junction from Highland Park, and I’ve been coming to Meander’s about once a month since it opened. If I can get up there, you can come down here.
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Is it sketchy? Sure. So’s downtown. So’s parts of Capitol Hill. So’s the area around King Street Station. And yet people go to these places.
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But thanks, monroe1200, for telling us in the south end that we’re not part of your community. Really heart warming, that is.

i’m not at all put off by white center. i spend my fair share of time and money at zippy’s, full tilt, proletariat, big al, uncle mike’s, company, and so on. almost certainly i’ll drive down at some point to check out the new meanders.
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that said, on any given weekend morning or late night (perhaps after drinking at beveridge place), i’d rather stroll to a diner than drive any distance. this is why i won’t be going to the new meanders nearly as often as i went to the old, and this is why i hope the morgan junction gets a decent replacement.

West Seattle desperately needs a good breakfast place and a good burger joint. We like to walk to breakfast and back makes us feel less guilty about eating all that food..We would also so much rather support West Seattle businesses. White Center is supporting theirs ..we keep losing ours.Eat as local as we can is our motto.

Not to go on a tangent, but I am actually really curious now – when did shop/eat local become “micro local” – for me, I see Seattle/greater Puget sound as “local”. I know that quite a few employees at Elliot Bay Books live in West Seattle, so when I shop there, I am supporting my neighbors in the larger scheme of things, same with other restaurants/stores. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate West Seattle places and frequent them but seriously, White Center supporting White Center and West Seattle supporting West Seattle just seems like a recipe for disaster. Should I tell my friends in Fremont not to come to the Junction because they should be supporting places on Fremont Ave. instead?

y’all can have it. when you first opened, i was OK with the smokey noisy hole in the wall, cause i generally support places like that. a couple WAYYY too long waits, a few times of getting served food that actually tasted BAD… the general lack of hygiene..then last time i took my girl there – breakfast bill was 35.00. are you kidding ?
west seattle IS short on breakfast places..so it kinda sucks, but i won’t cry any tears. who wants to go to a cafe nestled in between sleazy porno shops ? i’ve met some people there with honest intentions and i know y’all work your hearts out..
good luck to you guys down there. sorry i was so negative. i think you have a decent enough of a loyal fanbase. just some notes that i don’t doubt might be shared by others. ( i peek at yelp every once in a while. barely. but seems like my voice is not alone.)

I never said WC isn’t a part of WS, the maps were drawn by someone else, not me. CH,QA, Greenwood, those aren’t apart of WS either. I in fact hope that Meanders does well in WC, that is what I stated in my first post. But that doesnt change the fact that WC is NOT WS and that Meanders has left for another spot. I would think that Meanders would do what most businesses do when they are successful, and that would be to open a new location AND keep the one that is profitable and is the reason for your opportunity to expand in the first place. It sure would suck if they relocated to only have them lose business and have to close down. But like I already said, good luck in WC!

Regarding the geopolitical relationship between White Center and West Seattle … for what it’s worth, if you don’t follow the news from south of the county line (we have a website there too, albeit not commercial and not as frequently updated as this one, http://whitecenternow.com ) – WC residents (and those in what else is left of unincorporated King County just south of the city) are voting in today’s election on whether to be annexed by Burien. Seattle had dibs on the area but took a pass. Side note, but anyway, soon instead of the city/county line down Roxbury, it might be the Seattle/Burien line. Or not. – TR

Is that attitude the same as Roxhill Park being on the other side of Barton so you won’t go there either? Listen, I live in WEST SEATTLE. It is 6 blocks to 16th from my house which is WHITE CENTER. Your elitism is really annoying and disappointing. Thank goodness Miranda decided to close the West Seattle shop. You guys are not worthy.

Thank you for moving to where the Swass hang out. I have heard so.much about your cuisine and tried to get in a few times when the other place was packed. Ignore the snotty comments from the people too good to come to our side of the tracks. They can stay in their sterile environs and miss all the good stuff.

monroe, I don’t know how closely you’ve been following Meander’s story, but relocating may very well end having been a “no choice but to” scenario.

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Awhile back, Miranda found out that her Landlords, at the original location, are having to decide whether to sell the property, or keep it and redevelop it. She very possibly may have been losing her lease by year’s end.

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Either way, it’s not a decision the property owners came by lightly. Their lives were changed for the worse, after being the victims of a wreck caused by a drunk driver.

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Miranda had hoped to relocate in West Seattle proper, even looking at the old Charlestown Cafe location, but this WC location ended up being the most desirable for her, in terms of lease costs, and location size, to be able to accommodate more of what Miranda hopes for Meanders to evolve into.

I want to add my voice to support for the Meanders move. I live in Delridge and man oh man do we need more good breakfast joints. And dinner. And lunch. And well… restaurants of all types. There is something very cool going on in White Center with the new businesses and the old favorites. I think Miranda is making an excellent decision. I wish she could keep both spots open, but for the loyal folks it’s really not far away. I guess I’ll have to make the sacrifice and go to Meanders more since there are so many folks who plan to stop going because 3 miles is too far away. :)

Wow, I can’t believe the pettiness of this dialog. Meanders is making a move forward. She outgrew that space right after she opened. The kitchen is way too small to do what she is trying to do. (Who has time to wait 45 min. for breakfast?)I know this because I am in the same business and we looked at that space before she took it. What a nightmare. Those of you not in the restaurant business don’t have a clue about how difficult it is to run a business like that in a tiny run down hole in the wall. Why wouldn’t you want to move to a location that better serves you and your customers. White Center is not that far from West Seattle as many pointed out. In fact we go there all the time. La Fondita, the best taco truck in town is there, as well as many other already named places. We live in West Seattle and our business is in Belltown, the other place “no one wants to go” because of crime etc. I always encourage our WS friends to come to Belltown and support us just like we support the places in WS that we like. In fact a third of our staff lives in WS. So if you support us, you support them. The support goes around no matter how you look at it. Get over it people. Stop whining. There is a bigger world out there than West Seattle, and White Center is a part of it. If you like the place, go support them. You might actually enjoy yourself and see something new.

I live a few blocks north of Roxbury and was about to make a comment about not going out of your neighborhood, but then I realized I rarely go up to the Junction or Alki or any other northern West Seattle spots. I can easily walk to all the great stuff WC has to offer (in the dark, with my toddler) and have a great time, and I do! Very excited to try Meander’s, never have before. Also, while I’m not a big fan of porn shops, Stan’s is a very good business owner, keeps the area around the shop clean and litter-free, and puts up a very nice Christmas display in December. No joke, it’s a nice display, no porn involved. :)

We keep losing business establishments because Seattle is a terrible place to have a business. Things like the “bag ban” are just a tax on small business. White Center actually welcomes them instead of punishing them.

I will still go to Meander’s. I like to go later in the morning and since I am often on Thistle it will be just a short hop skip and jump to go there. And I am looking forward to what she will be able to do with the larger kitchen. Beignet’s are calling my name.

Oh, yeah! I’ll be there. I was a scaredy cat, too, about White Center, but lately I’ve discovered so many terrific things about the White Center area. Had my AC recharged (legally) for $10 instead of the $150 quoted me locally. And TWO King County Library locations with free color printing! And the best Thai fresh rolls – $4 for four of them, etc., etc. Like Miranda, we all can help White Center become a great go-to location instead of just somewhere to pass through between the “real” West Seattle and Burien.

Keep WS weird? Holy moly. WC is literally 5 minutes away. I really don’t get why you wouldn’t support a business you purport to LOVE. Wait. I do know. Anyway, maybe you should go. I’ve walked that street many times with my kids and exactly ZERO people have bothered me, day or evening.

WC is awesome. Good luck to Miranda and Meanders! I’m sorry some people are angry your business is successful and can afford to move to a larger location. You have many supporters, and only a few (loud) detractors.

I live about 2 minutes from Meander’s new location. I have traveled the remote stretches of hinterland, the desolate unending void between my neighborhood near WC, to the societal and commercial perfection of the Junction almost every weekend to enjoy the best damn waffle in the city- strawberry extravaganza. I’m pretty sure that if you like Meander’s food and the idea that community and investment (of money and heart and sweat and optimism) can help improve an area that might not yet hold all the charm and financial success and lack of a porn store that the Junction currently enjoys (although there are plenty of your neighbors that may consider Stan’s a point for the pro column-maybe he should just rename his store Toys in Babeland-oops taken), then you too can travel the vast distance of 3.2 miles to MY neighborhood and relish an amazingly delicious breakfast (or lunch or dinner) in the company of some great people who work hard to take care of their families, homes, neighbors and community.

Looking forward to checking this place out. Thanks for the tip and sorry to you West Seattleites…I felt the same way when New Luk Toy closed down years ago. I’m still looking for a waiter in there named Singh….Anybody know where he wound up? He was one of the best!

Thank god we left ws two years ago for wc. Reading over these tiresome comments makes us us realize we did the right thing. Welcome Meanders to White Center, we’ll be in with our friends for brunch in the morning. The it’s off to Stans for some spice of life.